24th MEU celebrates birthday in Iraq

[SR-25]

Submitted by: 24th MEU
Story Identification #: 2004111033612
Story by Staff Sgt. Demetrio J. Espinosa



FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq (Nov. 10, 2004) -- Every year, regardless of location, Marines come together on Nov. 10 to celebrate the Marine Corps' birthday.

This year, the Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit find themselves deployed and engaged in a fight to preserve the freedom won last year for the people of Iraq.

During a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Kalsu in northern Babil province, Marines, sailors, soldiers and their British brothers-in-arms gathered to celebrate the Marine Corps' 229th Birthday. The event included the traditional cake-cutting ceremony, the reading of Gen. John A. Lejeune's birthday message and the playing of bagpipes by Colour Sgt. Scott Taylor of the Scotland-based Black Watch Regiment.